Three Typewriter Typefaces

At first glance, all of my typewriters look like they have "the same font."  Obviously, this is not really the case!  I don't have what one would call a trained eye, but it's developing.  The best place to start learning is at home, so I've been looking closely at the typefaces on my personal machines.  Now, for the sake of the wide world, here is some information about those faces.

I believe all three are Elite (twelve characters per inch).

Here is a scan of a type sample for comparison:

A miniature specimen from my three manual typewriters.  Click for full size.

There are many obvious (if subtle) differences between the three.  Now I wish I could put names to each of the fonts!

I know that the typeface can be identified by the little emblem in the middle of the type slugs, but what I want to know is what that little thing is called so I can look for a database somewhere.

The type emblem on my Royal FP is a T superimposed over an S, followed by an E.

The type emblem on my Smith-Corona Classic 12 is the number 665 above a very strange character.  It looks like a Cyrillic capital letter D ("Д") back-to-back with (i.e. sharing a stem with) a Latin capital letter R.  I find this bizarre ligature lovely and mysterious.

The type emblem on my Commodore branded Consul 1511 is the number 39 above a circle, with a concentric circle inside it, with what looks like either a letter Z or number 2 inside of that.

I wish I could post pictures of these emblems, but I have nothing like the right kind of equipment to photograph something that tiny!  Maybe I'll get around to drawing facsimiles.  We'll see.

So, I'm just now starting the process of researching this area, and already have a nice list of sources to read when I find the time.  Meanwhile, if anyone has anything to add, I'd love to know about it!

My Smith Corona Classic 12 Typewriter

My boyfriend bought me this little wonder for Christmas this year.  I'd been chattering nonstop about typewriter features I wanted for about three months -- who knew he was actually listening?  I'm super-thrilled to have this in my home.  It's almost replaced my Royal FP as my primary use machine.

It is a Smith Corona Classic 12, in a beautiful blue.  And, my goodness, it is feature-packed!  I didn't really realize that a portable could be so richly endowed.  I have a lot to learn.

The tabulator is designed parallel to the space-bar family of keys.  It runs along the top, just above the upper bank of keys.  It has typical SET and CLEAR buttons to either side of the (unlabeled) TAB button itself.

The space bar is flanked by features I never even knew existed: the HALF-SPACE (for error-correction) and POWER SPACE (for flying across the page!).  Fortunately, the machine came along with its original documentation, so I was able to learn about how to use the HALF-SPACE from the manual (which, btw, is copyrighted 1976).  As for the POWER SPACE, it still amazes me that it can work -- it feels like something that belongs on an electric, not a manual.

They keyboard has tension control accomplished via a little lever in the upper left corner.  The lever is labeled with H(igh), M(edium), and L(ow) indicators, but seems to actually be a gradient/analog control. That is, I can set it anywhere between any of the marks (the lever doesn't snap to any positions).  The range is not as wide as the Touch Control on my Royal, but I don't have the tools to quantify that claim. :p

Of course it also has a color-selector, for red-black-stencil.

One of the coolest things is that it has two "replaceable keys."  These are the black ones in the upper corners -- currently they are mounted with a numeral 1 and exclamation point in one corner (my only typewriter with either of these characters) and a plus and equals in the other corner.  The type slugs pop on and off with relative ease, as do the key tops, for easy quick switches.  It's unfortunate that I don't have any other keys or types to replace them with!  I wonder if they are still available somewhere?

The margins are set with convenient little sliders behind the paper table.  It has a page gauge like my Royal FP, but this one is more advanced -- it provides actual numbers (in inches) adjusted to the size of the paper being used.  Not super accurate, according to some testing, but handy nonetheless.

One of the most important features for me is having a visible ruler under the typing area.  The lack of this indicator on my "Commodore" is one of the biggest reasons I don't use it much.

The carriage on this Classic is longer -- not long enough to do a legal page in landscape, but long enough to do standard letter pages in landscape.  Neither of my other typewriters have a carriage this long.

The underside is protected with a fully closed panel, which I hadn't seen before.  It's easy to imagine reasons for this, but the actual intended purpose I don't know.  Below, I've taken the panel off to show the insides.

There are two numbers on the underside, and I don't know yet which is the Serial Number and which is something else.  One is stamped in paint on a silver label tab: W 034223.  The other is impressed on the frame, visible through a cut-out in the blue casing: 6LIV 613982W.  There are also two numbers stamped in paint at irregular angles under the erasure table up top, and underlined: Z089 and 8116.  Maybe those reflect maintenance history or something?  Any more information about these numbers would interest me greatly.

The best part is that it is snappy, responsive, and consistent to type on.  A real pleasure!

My "Commodore" Typewriter

My mom acquired this awesome portable typewriter from a school district junk sale, for use as a prop in community theater.  Then she gave it to me!

It is branded as a Commodore, with the flimsy little plastic logo on the front (right-aligned).  The finish on the casing is a rough, wrinkly texture.  I've learned that it is a variant of the Consul 1511, though with unusual body styling.

Serial number imprinted on a bar underneath

The serial number ZP-173146 uses the "ZP" prefix that is said to have only been used until 1960.

Blondy Luggage Ld / Montreal / U.S. & Canada Patent Pending

The leather case it came in is boldly marked "Wellington School from 9th Grade 66-67."  I presume the numbers refer to a school year.  The case is made in Canada (where Commodore was based) by "Blondy Luggage."

"Commodore" imprinted on the underside of the casing

The line spacing can be set to single, double, or one-and-a-half.  This is more useful for modern users than my Royal's options of single, double, and triple.  The backspace key is on the opposite side of the keyboard from that on my Royal, which makes switching between the two machines dangerous for me.

Among other mysteries, I cannot figure out what this little white knob tucked under the platen knob does!  (See comments for more info on this)

It has other features, too, which I haven't really gotten familiar with, since I only use this Commodore once in a while.  What I like about it is the soft, snappy feel of the keys.  What I don't like about it is the jittery type line, lack of visible ruler, and lack of end-of-page indicator.  It's a portable, though.  I like having it, and I look forward to getting more comfortable with it.

My Royal Typewriter

I inherited this lovely beast when my grandmother passed away in 2005.  This was a serious working machine in her household, from the time my dad was a young kid tapping out book reports, right up until the end.

Serial number, with FPE prefix

It is a Royal with serial number FPE-6774326, and presumably dates back to the 1960s or late 50s, but I can't be more specific than that.  If anyone out there knows more, I'd love to hear about it.

Classically, the Royal emblem is also the button to open the top lid

"MAGIC trademark MARGIN"

It features Magic Margin™control tabs, Touch Control settings that range from 1 - 6 (my computer-trained fingers need it kept all the way to 6) located near the righthand ribbon housing, and can switch between black, red/corrective, and stencil.

3-color selector wheel, platen knob, long side panels: plastic

The line spacing can be set to single, double, or triple.  The "tab set" and "tab clear" buttons stick out from the front face of the housing.  The front plate has a nice bumpy texture on it.

Sticker on the left: patent numbers; spool housing on the right: Touch Control settings

I use this typewriter almost every day.  I prefer it for writing fiction (where getting trapped in the syntax of a poorly begun sentence can make magic) and the notes for my research.  It's also great on post-it stickies for make-shift labels, and of course anything that needs to go on index cards (like recipes).

Inside, a pipe-organ array of fine springs

UPDATE:  A place-holder type sample, until the new semester starts and I can use the computer lab scanners: